Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen District

Step out into Echigo-Yuzawa and you’ll feel it right away—the easy, lived-in onsen-town atmosphere, with winter ski trips and summer days for trekking or camping both in the mix. Along the prefectural road running out in front of JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station, lodgings, restaurants, and souvenir shops line the street, creating an onsen town atmosphere. The hot springs are said to have opened in the late Heian period, and the area is also famous as the model for Yasunari Kawabata’s classic novel Snow Country.

Around Echigo-Yuzawa Station, there are just over 50 accommodation options, ranging from long-established inns with a comforting traditional feel to luxury, Japanese-modern properties. There are also plenty of easy ways to enjoy the hot springs, including five public bathhouses you can visit at a great value with an “Out-of-Onsen Bath Pass,” as well as free footbaths around town (some operate only during the green season). Some ryokan and hotels also offer day-use bathing.

Another highlight is a nostalgic shooting gallery where you knock down targets lined up on shelves with cork balls and receive prizes based on your score. It’s a great place to soak up a retro vibe that recalls a Showa-era hot spring town. It’s also fun to stroll around while sampling local favorites like sasadango and charcoal-grilled dango and browsing for souvenirs. For getting around, electric-assist bike rentals from “Yukiguni Kankosha” in front of the station are handy. (Not available in winter.)